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Wisconsin

Wisconsin junior defenseman Jake McCabe will give up his final year of eligibility to sign a three-year, entry-level contract with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. McCabe is expected to make his NHL debut on Thursday, when the Sabres skate on the road at the St. Louis Blues.

McCabe was selected in the second round (44th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. He will join former Badger All-American defenseman Jamie McBain on the Sabres blue line.

A 2014 first-team All-Big Ten defenseman and team assistant captain, McCabe led Wisconsin defensemen with eight goals and 25 points in 36 games this season.

In 100 career games at Wisconsin, the 6-foot, 210-pound defenseman finishes with 14 goals, 58 points, 115 penalty minutes, seven power-play tallies, one shorthanded goal and four game-winning goals.

McCabe was Team USA's captain at the World Junior championships in 2013. He was named to the media all-star team for the tournament and ranked third among tournament defensemen with three goals and six points, while ranking second among all skaters with a plus-9.

McCabe’s departure makes it nine consecutive seasons that a Wisconsin men’s hockey player has left school early to sign a professional contract.